The curtain fell on the last FunShop of the year in an appropriate venue: the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, where Prestige Productions produced a "Florida Chic" themed event. "We wanted to do something different and show the higher end of the Florida lifestyle," said Michael Day, Prestige's creative director and designer.
The center's Carol Morsani Hall was transformed with neon lighting, interactive entertainment, and culinary delights. Prestige set up 15-foot palms with white stucco bases and square glass cubes, which hid lighting that made the palms change colors throughout the night. The space got an Art Deco touch with four nine-foot-tall neon walls featuring different tropical designs. Panache: An Event Rental Company arranged silver Chiavari chairs with tables covered in deep blue linens, each topped with a small lamp with a shimmery silver shade.
Two bars on either end of the hall were anchored with blue conga drums and featured the same glass cubes uplit in blue glowing behind a palm frond pattern. Bartenders poured a variety of libations provided by Premier Beverage Company Tampa. A small stage with an oversize hairspray can and guitar neck provided the perfect backdrop for a performance from, what else? Hairspray. Alison Burns, Heather Krueger, and Rick Criswell sang "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the hit musical, which was met with thunderous applause.
The cuisine also got a standing ovation, thanks to the center's catering team headed by executive chef Jack Wenz and sous chef Chris Deeds. Food stations consisted of two semicircular glass-cubed structures with one of the 15-foot lit palm trees in the center. The setup provided access from every direction. At one station, chefs served pan roasted black grouper served over a banana leaf with fried leeks and mango habanero salsa, as well as orange-and-tamarind-glazed chicken lollipops with daikon and carrot slaw and grapefruit brulee. Another station offered Florida alligator and rock shrimp ceviche with Key lime, coconut milk, and grilled pineapple; plus lamb chops rubbed with cinnamon and allspice and carved to order with braised yucca, julienne vegetables, and crispy plantain strips. For dessert, guests could choose from a towering display of cranberry creme brulee, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate mousse with fresh .phpberries.
Besides dinner and a show, guests enjoyed the interactive entertainment of Dance
Heads Florida, which lets you make your own music video—except you sing in front of a green screen that superimposes your head onto another person's dancing body set against a variety of backgrounds. Each participant received a DVD of their performance, which was also projected onto a nearby wall for all to see. Airheads Oxygen Bars was there to give people a shot of flavored oxygen from fruit to floral scents.
Towards the end of the evening, the area was raided by fierce pirates from Wise Guys—this is Tampa after all, which is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the popular .phparilla Festival. The swashbucklers came down the staircase and threw beads to the crowd below before mingling among them to deliver more booty.
The FunShop, however, began in a less intimidating manner.
Continue reading about the FunShop
The center's Carol Morsani Hall was transformed with neon lighting, interactive entertainment, and culinary delights. Prestige set up 15-foot palms with white stucco bases and square glass cubes, which hid lighting that made the palms change colors throughout the night. The space got an Art Deco touch with four nine-foot-tall neon walls featuring different tropical designs. Panache: An Event Rental Company arranged silver Chiavari chairs with tables covered in deep blue linens, each topped with a small lamp with a shimmery silver shade.
Two bars on either end of the hall were anchored with blue conga drums and featured the same glass cubes uplit in blue glowing behind a palm frond pattern. Bartenders poured a variety of libations provided by Premier Beverage Company Tampa. A small stage with an oversize hairspray can and guitar neck provided the perfect backdrop for a performance from, what else? Hairspray. Alison Burns, Heather Krueger, and Rick Criswell sang "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the hit musical, which was met with thunderous applause.
The cuisine also got a standing ovation, thanks to the center's catering team headed by executive chef Jack Wenz and sous chef Chris Deeds. Food stations consisted of two semicircular glass-cubed structures with one of the 15-foot lit palm trees in the center. The setup provided access from every direction. At one station, chefs served pan roasted black grouper served over a banana leaf with fried leeks and mango habanero salsa, as well as orange-and-tamarind-glazed chicken lollipops with daikon and carrot slaw and grapefruit brulee. Another station offered Florida alligator and rock shrimp ceviche with Key lime, coconut milk, and grilled pineapple; plus lamb chops rubbed with cinnamon and allspice and carved to order with braised yucca, julienne vegetables, and crispy plantain strips. For dessert, guests could choose from a towering display of cranberry creme brulee, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate mousse with fresh .phpberries.
Besides dinner and a show, guests enjoyed the interactive entertainment of Dance
Heads Florida, which lets you make your own music video—except you sing in front of a green screen that superimposes your head onto another person's dancing body set against a variety of backgrounds. Each participant received a DVD of their performance, which was also projected onto a nearby wall for all to see. Airheads Oxygen Bars was there to give people a shot of flavored oxygen from fruit to floral scents.
Towards the end of the evening, the area was raided by fierce pirates from Wise Guys—this is Tampa after all, which is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the popular .phparilla Festival. The swashbucklers came down the staircase and threw beads to the crowd below before mingling among them to deliver more booty.
The FunShop, however, began in a less intimidating manner.
Continue reading about the FunShop
Prestige Productions created a "Florida Chic" themed event for the final FunShop of the season at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Tropical neon signs paired with Panache's cool silver and blue table settings added to the Art Deco look.
The center's catering team served cinnamon- and allspice-rubbed lamb chops carved to order with braised yucca, julienne vegetables, and crispy plantain strips.
A towering trio of desserts included cranberry creme brulee, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries.
One of the chef-attended stations offered Florida alligator and rock shrimp ceviche with Key lime, coconut milk, and grilled pineapple.
Bars got a Miami Beach makeover with palm fronds, blue lighting, and conga drum accents.
Guests made their own music videos at the interactive Dance Heads Florida booth.
Performers sang "You Can't Stop the Beat" from the hit musical Hairspray.
The stage was set with an oversize hairspray can and guitar neck.
Pirates from Wise Guys raided the FunShop delivering beads and other booty to the crowd.
